No one needed to detail the gaudy statistics to Matt Nichols during or after.

He knew they were piling up for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in their 40-32 overtime win over the Ottawa REDBLACKS and had sensed a confident vibe was again circulating in their offensive huddle.

“All the stats are great to look at afterwards, but for me, what was nice is I felt like every time we went out there, there was this confidence that we were going to move the ball, we were going to get into scoring position,” said Nichols as the Bombers returned to practice on Tuesday. “We did that over and over and that just gives you good confidence that the next time you get the ball you’re going to go out there and do the same thing.

“It was that feeling that whatever play is called we’re going to get it to the right guy and move the chains. I just think we executed the game plan very well. Coach LaPolice called a great game and we were clicking on all cylinders and for me, that’s what sticks out the most. I didn’t really go back and look at all the stats,” he added. “I know just by the way it felt that second down conversions are good. I knew that first down production was pretty good and all that’s just based on how the game felt. And it felt like we were doing what we wanted to do for the most part.”

Some of the ‘O’ numbers in particular are worth revisiting:

• Winnipeg cranked out 33 first downs and finished with 191 yards along the ground and 265 through the air
• Nichols was a steady 27 of 36 for 265 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions
• The Bombers were able to limit the potential damage by Ottawa’s high-octane offence by controlling the ball for 36 minutes and 22 seconds, or almost 13 minutes more than the REDBLACKS
• Winnipeg also averaged 6.2 yards on first down plays, and converted 62 percent of their second down conversions (18 of 29)

And then when it mattered most, the Bombers were able to score a TD and a two-point convert in overtime, before Adam Bighill forced a fumble on Ottawa’s first possession in extra time to seal the deal.

“You look at those six-seven plays (in overtime) and we were pretty much lights out on every snap,” said Andrew Harris, who finished with 132 yards rushing and added another 31 through the air. “That’s encouraging. And then defence was able to make a big play. The receivers all contributed, the O-line contributed and the run game was going and Matt was on point. I’m definitely optimistic going forward.

“It’s the balance. I always talk about being balanced and when you’re balanced and successfully balanced – when the pass and the run are both chewing up yardage and getting first downs – it definitely makes a big difference. Teams can’t key too much on one or the other. I mean, as much as Ottawa did bring pressure and blitzes we were able to overcome it and pick it up for the most part. They did have a couple sacks… they brought 22 pressures against us. That’s a good average and we were doing a good job protecting Matt.”

The Bombers returned to the practice field Tuesday for the first time since last weekend’s 40-32 OT win over Ottawa. Here are some other notes and quotes you NEED TO KNOW following the club’s session…

THE HEAT IS ON:

Four of the five West Division clubs won games on the weekend with the Edmonton Eskimos, who fell 19-12 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday, the lone exception. Those results just further tightened the playoff race with just four weeks remaining in the regular season.

“It’s always going to be interesting,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “It’s tough football out here this time of year. There’s still lots of football left, lots of games to be played. Who knows how it’s going to turn out?”

The Bombers’ odds of making the playoffs sit at 91.7 percent according to this website.

And here are the remaining schedules for each of the teams in this West Division race:

• Saskatchewan (10-5): at Winnipeg, at Calgary, vs. B.C.
• Winnipeg (8-7): vs. Saskatchewan, vs. Calgary, at Edmonton
• B.C. (7-7): at Calgary, vs. Edmonton, at Saskatchewan, vs. Calgary
• Edmonton (7-8): vs. Ottawa, at B.C., vs. Winnipeg

SURGING SASKATCHEWAN:

The Bombers welcome their Prairie rivals again on Saturday at Investors Group Field. The Riders have won seven of their last eight, including Monday’s victory over the Esks that was sealed by a Willie Jefferson Pick-6 in the fourth quarter.

“That happened to me also,” said Nichols, who saw Jefferson do the same thing in the Banjo Bowl. “The guy is a freak of nature and one of the only guys in the world that can make plays like that. (Eskimo QB) Mike’s (Reilly) throwing to an open receiver… I mean, it’s hard to account for a D-linemen that’s in the line of scrimmage that can leap up and catch a ball with decent velocity from five yards away. I mean, people just don’t make that catch. It was an unbelievable job by him on that play.”

“Crazy game,” added Harris. “Saskatchewan… that’s been their claim to fame, their defence getting those big turnovers and scoring points. That’s something we’re focusing on going forward and winning the turnover battle, making sure we have good ball security and just making sure we make good decisions. They’ve got good playmakers on that defence and on that team and they’re definitely making plays right now.”

NEW BLUE BLOOD:

The Bombers bolstered their practice roster on Tuesday with the addition of two new defensive ends, both imports, in Marcell Frazier and Patrick Choudja.

Frazier (6-4, 259, Missouri) played three years with the Tigers, totaling 87 tackles, 16.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 36 games. Frazier signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018 before joining the Cleveland Browns for training camp.

Choudja (6-3, 263, Nevada) spent four seasons with the Nevada Wolfpack, registering 93 tackles, 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 50 games. Choudja signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

BIG PLAY BIGHILL:

There was still a buzz around Bomberland Tuesday about the finish in Ottawa, with the game’s critical moment decided by linebacker Adam Bighill as he forced a fumble in OT to secure the victory.

Bighill was nonchalant about the play a few days later, saying “Overtime, that’s when everything gets heightened a bit more, so to make a big play in overtime is a lot of fun.”

O’Shea was a tad more effusive in his praise.

“He’s a helluva player,” he said of Bighill. “He’s a very intelligent football player. He makes guys better around him. I think the guys are playing better because he’s a part of them. Absolutely.”

MERCURY DROPPING:

The Bombers practised in 3C conditions on Tuesday with Wednesday’s forecast calling for flurries and a north wind gusting from 30-60 km/h. Nichols, who had been fighting a cold last week, was asked after practice if he embraces the cold weather.

“I do,” he said with a grin. “Especially being up here for this long because you know it’s a part of it. If you have the wrong mindset coming out here you’re going to struggle and it’s going to be miserable. For me, I see it as a positive for us. I feel like I’ve played some good football in inclement weather so I just always take that mindset that it’s an advantage for us when there’s bad weather. I’ve played in a lot of cold games, windy, rainy, whatever it is you’ve just got to go out and play and have that mindset that it doesn’t matter.”

OUCH REPORT:

DE Jackson Jeffcoat returned to work for a portion of practice on Tuesday. He’s been out for five games with an ‘upper-body injury.’ Limited on Tuesday were OL Pat Neufeld and Sukh Chungh and LB Adam Bighill, but all three are expected to be available for Saturday’s game against the Riders.

Jeffcoat’s status will be evaluated after O’Shea has a chance to meet tomorrow with head Athletic Therapist Al Couture.